Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands.GROW—School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Abstract

Background: Nut intake has been associated with decreased cancer-related mortality, but few studies have examined the potential of nuts in the chemoprevention of pancreatic cancer. We prospectively investigated the association of total nut, tree nut, peanut, and peanut butter consumption with pancreatic cancer risk.

Methods: In the Netherlands Cohort Study, 120,852 men and women completed a baseline questionnaire, including a food frequency questionnaire, in 1986. After 20.3 years of follow-up, 583 incident pancreatic cancer cases, including 349 microscopically confirmed pancreatic cancer (MCPC) cases, were included in multivariable case–cohort analyses.

Results: Increased total nut consumption was associated with a nonsignificantly decreased MCPC risk in men [HR (95% confidence interval) for 10+ g/d vs. nonconsumers = 0.72 (0.47–1.11), Ptrend = 0.163]. No clear association was found in women. For tree nut and peanut consumption, nonsignificant inverse associations were observed in men. In women, no or unclear associations were found for tree nut and peanut consumption. Peanut butter intake was related to a significantly reduced risk of MCPC in men [HR (95% confidence interval) for 5+ g/d vs. nonconsumers = 0.53 (0.28–1.00), Ptrend = 0.047], but this relation was not clear in women. Evidence for a nonlinear dose–response relation with MCPC was found for tree nut intake only. The associations were weaker when looking at total pancreatic cancer.